Adapted for the screen by Nick Hornby (High Fidelity, About a Boy), An Education is based on writer Lynn Barber’s young adulthood, about which she wrote an article for the British magazine Granta (and later, wrote into a full memoir).  Her coming-of-age tale is one of curiosity and heartbreak that, combined with excellent acting, makes for a quite compelling film.

The adorable Carey Mulligan plays innocent schoolgirl Jenny, forced into an Oxford-bound life by her demanding father.  Only 16 years old, standing on a corner in the rain with her cello, she meets a stranger named David (Peter Sarsgaard) who offers to give her a lift out of concern, he says, for her instrument’s wellbeing.  The two begin to run into each other around town, and Jenny is captivated by David’s adventurous life.  He invites her to high-end concerts and events, and even to a Pre-Raphaelite art auction.  She is inevitably infatuated, though he and his pals are adults nearly 20 years her elder.

David’s smooth talking wins over Jenny’s parents as well, as they see his adventures as a great opportunity for Jenny to experience a life they hope she will someday lead.

However, Jenny soon finds that the money David and his friends use for their extravagant life is dishonestly obtained, and David may not be exactly who he appears to be.

Carey Mulligan is exquisite as young Jenny, and embarks on her brief transformation into adulthood with an emotional combination of naivety and poise.  Peter Sarsgaard is charming yet mildly creepy as always – the perfect combination for David’s dual-sided character.

An Education is a comedy, a tragedy, and a true comment on the type of education we value – a must see for film lovers, with Oscar nominations well earned.